Nursing Assistant

Overview

This position is located at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. The Nursing Assistant at this grade level functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists licensed nursing staff in the care of patients receiving outpatient, inpatient, or emergency care who are in acute, sub-acute, chronic, or end of life states of illness.

• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans and refers deviations to appropriate health care staff.
• Provides direct care for complex veterans.
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition (e.g., behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite) and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role.
• Documents care given, observations, and responses on appropriate tools or forms.
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel.
• Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitors and documents patient intake and output; reports deviations timely and accurately.
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures (e.g., enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care, simple dressings, application of braces and prosthetic devices, monitoring of vital signs).
• Will learn to utilize the appropriate glucose monitoring machine to collect and document glucose readings for assigned Veterans.
• Will learn to utilize the glucose monitoring machine to collect and document urine hCG readings for assigned Veterans.
• Will learn to obtain and instruct assigned Veterans on how to obtain a urine drug analysis and submit to the laboratory department.
• Will learn to conduct a 12-lead EKG for assigned Veterans.
• Will learn to conduct phlebotomy for assigned Veterans to obtain doctor-ordered blood lab specimens.
• Work with small groups of veterans/residents according to the patient/resident treatment plan.
• Recognize residents’ autonomy and promote independence by means of respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment.
• Actively participate in Treatment Planning Meetings.
• Utilize equipment to promote veteran self-care (e.g., lift equipment, hydrotherapy tubs, and wandering system).
• Verbalize patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran/resident’s plan of care and participate in treatment team meetings for resident care planning.
• Enter information about the resident’s condition in the chart using appropriate formats.
• Participate in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient/resident; remove defective equipment, report hazards, observe safety regulations, contribute to infection control, and use aseptic technique in performance of duties.
• Serve as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serve as preceptor and mentor to other NAs.
• Orient members of the health care team to the unit as appropriate.
• Function as a member of the unit base council.
• Manage distributed patient behavior and appropriately intervene and request assistance from other health care members.
• Appropriately initiate basic life support and take appropriate action.
• Complete all mandatory training within appropriate timelines. Actively participate in annual competency assessment and validation.
• Follow departmental SOPs, SOWs, facility and organizational guidelines and protocols.

• Work Schedule: M-F
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. A higher step rate may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off per year (13-26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000 may qualify for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA.
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

End of description.